Missing yachtie's family visit Chathams, Gisborne

A visit to Gisborne has helped the family and girlfriend of Paul van Rensberg put together more of the missing pieces surrounding the yachtsman's disappearance.

Mr van Rensberg left Tauranga Harbour on his 11-metre steel-hulled yacht Tafadzwa early on March 12 bound for Gisborne, where he was to start a new job.

From technical data on the boat, it is believed he was swept or fell from the boat near the tip of East Cape early in the trip.

When the competent 40-year-old sailor did not arrive in Gisborne, the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand organised a search between Tauranga and Gisborne by air and sea for three days but found nothing.

The yacht was found on March 28, 110km off the Chatham Islands. There was no sign of Mr van Rensberg but his dog Juanita was alive on board.

The sailor's parents, sister and brother flew out to New Zealand last week from South Africa.

With Mr van Rensberg's partner, Kirsten Duirs, they went straight to the Chatham Islands.

They came to Gisborne with Juanita over Easter to visit the area where Mr van Rensberg was heading.

"Intensely private" people, they did not want to talk to the media but would issue a statement before they left New Zealand to clarify some issues about the sad event, a spokesman said.

"They are all still obviously very upset."

While the future of the yacht is uncertain, it is still in the Chatham Islands, Juanita was pleased to be reunited with a familiar face after her two-week ordeal alone at sea.

She has stayed by Ms Duirs' side since she arrived at the Chatham Islands.

Juanita had been looked after by the family of the island's policeman.

Mr van Rensberg's family is in the country for another couple of weeks.

Ms Duirs and Juanita will stay in New Zealand.

- NZPA